Campus News:

Greek production 'Orestes' to be reprised at KU

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas
Theatre's production of Euripides' "Orestes," performed this summer
in an ancient theatre in Greece, will be restaged at KU Aug. 24 and 25. Curtain
time is 7:30 p.m. in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall.

Dennis
Christilles, associate professor of theatre, adapted the script and directed
the bilingual production, performed in both English and Greek. This new adaptation
was developed for this production, which was first performed July 28 at the
Ancient Theatre of Oiniades.

The
production is the result of a six-week Study Abroad program in Greece. The KU
Summer Theatre in Greece program, which has been running since 1990, involves
about 14 students who live and attend classes in the village of Katohi, which
is a part of the larger community of Iniades. The classes include instruction
in Greek language, history, art and architecture as well as lessons in
traditional Greek folk dancing. The group also visits archaeological and
historical sites in Delphi, Corinth, Mycenae, Nauplia, Epidauros, Cephalonia,
Messolonghi and Athens.

Christilles
said "Orestes" was written during a time of strife and unrest in
Greece when the Peloponnesian War was draining the resources and morality of
Athens.

The
story is familiar: Orestes, son of Agamemnon, in order to avenge his father’s
death, has murdered his mother, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus.

"Our
production explores the importance of personal responsibility," Christilles
said. "When Orestes is discovered sick and mad six days after he has
slaughtered his mother, his sister, Electra, tolerates and cares for him as
their city decides their fate. Orestes is eager to find others to blame for
what he has done. Apollo, having ordered Orestes to seek revenge (or so he
says), seems to have abandoned him. Orestes attempts to find allies and
scapegoats, all the while denying that he did anything more than follow orders."

Euripides’
play is not a tragedy in the classical sense, Christilles said. In many ways,
it resembles melodrama, satire and, at times, comedy.

"'Orestes'
is a reflection of a world without reason. Everyone complains. Everyone finds
fault in others. Responsibility is the burden of others. Orestes’ lack of a
moral compass, his denial of personal responsibility and his unbelievable
ability to escape justice are issues that resonate even today in more
enlightened times."

This
summer, the KU students were joined by a 14-member delegation from the City of
Lawrence. In 2009, Lawrence and Iniades officially became Sister Cities. The
Sister Cities organization, began during the Eisenhower Administration, is an
effort to spread understanding between nations. Lawrence has two other Sister
Cities, Hiratska, Japan, and Eutin, Germany.

Reserved seat tickets for
"Orestes" are on sale in the KU ticket offices: University Theatre,
864-3982, and Lied Center, 864-ARTS, and online at kutheatre.com. Public
tickets are $15, tickets for all students are $10, and senior citizen and KU faculty
and staff tickets are $14.